Timer setting and starting device



Nov. 17, 1942. J. J. ROTHWELL ET AL 2,302,260

TIMER SETTING AND STARTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1941 Patented Nov. 17, 1942 UNITED STATEE (C 1. Mil-15) Application August 4,

14 Claims.

Our present invention relates to a timer setting and starting device for the purpose of set ting timing mechanism (such as clock-works) for a predetermined period of operation, and for starting the timing mechanism as by utilizing a flexible finger operated by the timer setting means to Wipe the periphery of the balancewh el of the timing mechanism.

One object of our invention is to provide setting and starting mechanism of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, which. is conveniently associated with timing mechanism of the variety having a winding spring with step-down gearing and a balance wheel operated thereby.

A further object to provide a device for ting the timing mechanism and for also starting it by the same operation that sets the timing mechanism for the desired operation.

Still a further object is to provide the starting mechanism designed so as to effect starting of the timing mechanism without any possibility whatever of holding the setting and starting knob until the balance wheel stops oscillating or otherwise defeating the purpose of the starting part of the device.

More specifically, it is our object to provide starting mechanism wherein a lost motion connection between a setting knob and the starting device causes the starting finger of the mechanism to Wipe the balance wheel as the last operation when the knob is released.

With these and other objects in View, our invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of our device whereby the objects contemplated are a tained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in our claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is an enlarged front elevation of a timer setting and starting device embodying our invention and showing it connected with a timing mechanism.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line of Figure 2 showing a starting spring.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 i of Figure 2 showing an actuating element to open a switch or perform other control functions; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 showing a lost motion connection which is important in the construction of our setting and starting device.

On the accompanying drawing We have used the reference numerals IQ, l2 and I3 to indicate i frame plates of a timing mechanism, such as clock or watch works. The timing mechanism further includes a winding shaft l i, a main spring !5 and a balance wheel :6. I

Our setting and starting device includes a starter spring shaft [7 which may be rotatably mounted on the timing mechanism as by a bore 18 of the shaft ll rotatably reeciving a stud l9 fixedly secured to the frame plate l3. The starter spring shaft H has adjacent its right-hand end in Figure 2 a peripheral groove 29. A starter spring S is provided in the form of a spring wire having four parts, a radial arm 2!, a starting finger 22, a loop 23 and a short radial arm 24. The loop 23 is formed smaller in diameter than the groove 2i] so as to frictionally engage in the groove.

The finger 2?. is adapted to Wipe the periphery of the balance wheel Is, as shown in Figure 3, when the starter spring shaft I! is rotated clockwise. The finger 22 first moves from a position indicated at a to a position indicated at b, whereupon it engages the periphery of the balance wheel, and then as the arm 2! is swung further toward the right the finger 22 flexes upwardly and carries with it the balance wheel along the path indicated at 0. Finally, when the arm 2| is in the dotted position, the arm 24 of the spring S is also in the dotted position illustrated, engaging a stop pin 25 to stop further rotation of the starter spring, even though the starter spring shaft continues to rotate, as will hereinafter be described. Subsequently, when the starter spring returns through the path indicated ccZ to the position a, the balance wheel will be given a start on its oscillating movement.

For rotating the starter spring shaft H We provide a knob 25 secured thereto, as by a screw 21. The knob 25 is also for setting purposes, as will hereinafter be described.

The setting mechanism for the timing device consists of a winding shaft 2 3 which is tubular and surrounds the shaft l'l. At each end a pair of lugs, such as indicated at 29 in Figure 5, are provided, the lugs at the inner end entering a winding gear 3%], and the lugs at the outer end entering a dial 3i The lugs are then riveted so that the assembly of starting shaft 28, starting gear til and dial 3| are a unit. The starting gear 30 meshes with a starting pinion 32 on the main spring shaft I l. 4

A lost motion connection is provided between the knob 26 and the dial 3| in the form of an arcuate slot 33 in the dial and a pin 34 carried by the knob. A return spring 35 is associated with the slot 33 and the pin 3 to normally keep the parts in the position illustrated in Figure 5. It is obvious, however, that clockwise rotation of the knob 26 will carry with it the pin 34 to the dotted position illustrated in this figure if there is sufficient resistance imposed on the dial 3!. Such resistance is so imposed in the form of the resistance of the main spring 15, which is stronger than the spring 35.

The timing mechanism disclosed is for control purposes, such as shown in connection with a room thermostat in the co-pending application of Lyle Houghton and John J. Rothwell, Serial No. 428,260, filed January 26, 1942. In the present application we have shown, merely by way of illustration, an actuating element 36 in the form of an arm secured to the setting shaft 28 as by set screws 31. This arm is shown as operable to open a set of electric contacts 38-39, as the timing period expires.

Practical operation In the operation of our timer setting and starting device let it be assumed that it is desirable to close the switch 3339 for a two hour period and then have the switch automatically open. The operator grasps the knob 25 and rotates it in a right-hand direction. The first action that occurs is for the lost motion at 3334 to be taken up, as by the parts assuming the dotted position of Figure 5. until the pin 34 strikes an end 35 formed on the retmn spring 35 and bent at right angles to enter the slot 33. Thereafter, the dial 3! will be carried along with the knob and the dial can be rotated until its indicia 2 registers with a stationary pointer 40.

During the take-up of the lost motion the starter spring S will swing to the dotted position of Figure 3 and the short arm 24 strikes the stop pin 25 on the timing mechanism frame plate 13.

Thereafter, the starter spring shaft I! may slip inside the loop 23 with the dotted position of Figure 3 being assumed just prior to the dotted position of Figure 5, so that a full forward motion of the starter spring is had before the dial 3| starts to rotate.

As the dial 31 rotates from to 2, the shaft I! will continue to slip inside the loop 23 of the starter spring. When the 2 on the dial matches the pointer 40 the operator releases the knob 25, whereupon it immediately snaps back to the fullline position of Figure 5 (as far as pin 34 with relation to the slot 33 is concerned) This causes the starter spring S to quickly swing from its dotted position to its full-line position, first wiping the periphery of the balance wheel 18 and then releasing it as the finger 22 moves from position b to position a. At position a the arm 2| engages the stop pin 25 and thereafter reverse rotation of the winding shaft 28 under the influence of the spring as it unwinds may take place without prohibitive friction against such movement by the starter spring S. The stop pin effects a loosening of the loop 23 on the starter spring shaft as the shaft slowly rotates in a counter-clockwise direction.

Finally, at 0 position of the dial 3| the actuator 36 will engage the contact spring 38 and separate it from the contact 39 to automatically break the circuit at the time desired in accordance with the setting of the device. The reverse rotation of the timing mechanism may eventually be stopped by a stop pin 4| stationarily mounted with respect to the timing mechanism and engaged by the contact spring 38, as illustrated in Figure 4.

The spring permits such motion This would be the 0 position or slightly farther than 0 position of the dial.

Our timer setting and starting device is foolproof in that it eliminates possibility of failure in the starting operation. Some starting devices have heretofore been made wherein a finger wipes the balance wheel, but even after the starting operation the balance wheel may be stopped if the setting knob is held, thus relieving the energy of the winding spring therefrom. In other cases a setting knob with a starting finger could be moved so slowly as to sometimes permit the balance wheel to stop instead of starting it. With our construction, however, the starting of the balance wheel is the last operation, and this operation is performed by merely releasing the knob, which is the most logical way of permitting the return spring 35 to perform its function and give a quick starting movement to the finger 22. The final starting of the balance wheel is performed after the setting operation has been completed.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of our device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of our invention, and it is our intention to cover by our claims any modified forms of structure, or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

We claim as our invention:

1. A timer setting and starting device comp-rising a setting and starting knob, a starter sprin shaft operatively connected with said knob, a starter sprin frictionally carried by said shaft to operatively engage the balance wheel of a timing mechanism to start said wheel oscillating, a winding shaft for the main spring of the timing mechanism, said winding shaft being tubular and surrounding said starter spring shaft, a dial carried by said Winding shaft, a lost motion Connection between said knob and said dial, said lost motion connection including a return spring, and an actuating element carried by said winding shaft.

2. A timer setting and starting device comprising a setting and starting knob, a starter spring shaft secured to said knob, a starter spring frictionally carried by said shaft and having a flexible finger to wipe the periphery of the balance Wheel of a timing mechanism to start said wheel oscillating, a winding shaft for the main spring of the timing mechanism, a dial carried by said winding shaft, a lost motion connection between said knob and said dial, said lost motion connection including a return spring, and an actuating element carried by said winding shaft.

3. In a timer setting and starting device, a knob, a starter spring shaft operatively connected with said knob, a starter spring frictionally carried by said shaft and operative to engage the balance wheel of a timing mechanism to start said wheel oscillating, a winding shaft for the main spring of the timing mechanism, a dial carried by said winding shaft, and a lost motion connection between said knob and said dial.

4. In a timer setting and starting device, a starter spring shaft, a starter spring frictionally carried by said shaft and having a flexible finger to wipe the periphery of the balance wheel of a timing mechanism, a winding shaft for the main spring of the timing mechanism, said winding shaft being tubular and surrounding said starter spring shaft, a dial carried by said winding shaft, and a lost motion connection between said knob and said dial.

5. A timer setting and starting device comprising a knob, a starter spring shaft actuated thereby, a starter spring carried by said shaft and having a finger to wipe the periphery of the balance Wheel of a timing mechanism, winding means for the main spring of the timing mechanism, said winding means having a lost motion connection with said knob, and an actuating element carried by said Winding means and adapted to effect a control operation adjacent the end of the unwinding operation.

6. A timer setting and starting device comprising a setting and starting knob, a starter spring shaft operatively connected with said knob, said shaft having a groove therearound, a starter spring comprising a radial arm having at one end a loop frictionally engaged in said groove and its opposite end arranged in position to wipe the periphery of the balance wheel of a timing mechanism, a winding shaft for the main spring of said timing mechanism, a lost motion connection between said knob and said winding shaft, a return spring for said lost motion connection and an actuating element on said winding shaft.

'7. A timer setting and starting device comprising a setting and starting knob, a winding shaft for the main spring of the timing mechanism, a lost motion connection between said knob and said winding shaft, said lost motion connection including a return spring operable to permit said knob to rotate the extent of the lost motion connection when the knob is manipulated to wind said main spring and operable to move said knob in a reverse direction when the knob is released, and starter mechanism for said timing mechanism operable by said knob when so released and moved in a return direction by said return spring.

8. A timer setting and starting device comprising a starting element, a return spring therefor operable to move said starting element in a reverse direction when it is released after being moved, and starter mechanism for a timing mechanism operable by said starting element when so released and moved in a return direction by said return spring.

9. A timer setting and starting device comprising a setting and starting knob, a winding shaft for the main spring of the timing mechanism, a lost motion connection between said knob and said winding shaft, said lost motion connection permitting initial movement of said knob independent of said winding shaft and effecting return movement of said knob independent of said winding shaft when saidknob is released, and timer starting mechanism operated by said knob when so returned to effect starting of said timing mechanism.

10. A timer starting device comprising a starting knob, a shaft therefor, a lost motion connection between said knob and said shaft, said lost motion connection permitting initial movement of said knob independent of said shaft and effecting return movement of said knob independent of said shaft when said knob is released, and timer starting mechanism operated by said knob when so returned to effect starting of said timing mechanism.

11. A timer setting and starting device comprising a knob, means for winding the main spring of the timing mechanism, a lost motion connection between said knob and said means, means to effect return of the knob when the knob is released after operating the first means, an actuating element on said first means, and timer starting mechanism operated by said knob when so returned to effect starting of said timing mechanism.

12. A timer starting device comprising a manually operable device, a winding shaft for the main spring of the timing mechanism, a lost motion connection between said manually operable device and said winding shaft, means to effect return of the manually operable device relative to said winding shaft throughout the limit of lost motion when the manually operable device is released after operating the winding shaft, an actuating element on said winding shaft, and timer starting mechanism for the timing mechanism operated by said manually operable device during its return movement.

13. In a timer setting and starting device, a starter spring shaft, means for manually rotating said shaft, said shaft having a groove therearound, a starter spring comprising a radial arm having at one end a loop frictionally engaged in said groove and its opposite end arranged to wipe the periphery of the balance wheel of a timing mechanism, winding means for the main spring of said timing mechanism, a lost motion connection between said first means and said winding means, and a return spring for said lost motion connection.

14. A timer setting and starting device comprising a starter spring shaft having a groove therearound, a starter spring having a loop frictionally engaged in said groove and a portion arranged to operatively engage the balance wheel of a timing mechanism for starting it, winding means for the main spring of said timing mechanism, and a lost motion connection between said starter spring shaft and said winding means.

JOHN J. ROTHWELL. BURTON E. SHAW. 

